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British Columbia Lottery Corporation: BC Residents Get First Chance at Gold Medal Hockey Tickets Through SportsFunder

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Jan. 7, 2008) - Today, British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) is proud to announce the release of Gold Medal Hockey, a new $5 SportsFunder Instant Win ticket that offers BC residents the chance to be there when the puck drops for the men's and women's gold medal hockey games at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

"The gold medal games will be the highest profile hockey games ever played in British Columbia. Hockey fans all over the world will tune in to watch them on TV, but the lucky winners of this lottery game will have the once-in-a-lifetime experience of watching the games live from great seats at General Motors Place," said Jim Lightbody, BCLC Vice President of Lottery Gaming.

With a total of 100 pairs of tickets to be won (50 to the men's hockey final and 50 to the women's hockey final), players have a 1:5,000 chance of winning tickets to a Gold Medal Hockey Game at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. In addition to offering the chance to win tickets to a gold medal game plus $1,000 cash, the SportsFunder Gold Medal Hockey ticket also features $1 million in cash prizes. The overall odds of winning any prize are approximately 1:4.

"The hockey final games in 2010 will be an unforgettable experience and we're proud to partner with BCLC to offer BC residents this opportunity to win the chance to be there," said John Furlong, CEO of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). "In doing so, we're building for the future as we help support BCLC's programs to get more kids into sport and to support BC's amateur athletes as they pursue their dreams."

Lottery players will also have the chance to win tickets to the Men's Gold Medal Hockey Game through SportsFunder 50/50 and SportsFunder Interactive Games. For more information, please visit www.bclc.com.

Over the next two years, BCLC will offer British Columbians the chance to win thousands of tickets to the 2010 Winter Games by playing SportsFunder lottery games. Proceeds from the sale of SportsFunder lottery games support amateur sports in B.C. through KidSport™, Team BC, Youth Sport Travel Assistance, and Coach and Leadership Development. KidSport™ provides financial assistance to children who wish to play sports but cannot afford the registration fees. Team BC gives athletic development support to provincial teams representing B.C. at Canada's premier multi-sport events.

About BCLC

BCLC is a provincial Crown Corporation reporting to the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General through a Board of Directors. Its mission is to offer responsible gaming entertainment, generating income for the public good.

About VANOC

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010.

VANOC's Official Supporters include Air Canada, British Columbia Lottery Corporation, Canadian Pacific, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, Jet Set Sports, Ricoh Canada Inc., the Royal Canadian Mint, and Teck Cominco Limited. VANOC's Official Suppliers are 3M, Birks, Dow Canada, EPCOR, Haworth Canada, Nortel, TransCanada, Vincor Canada, Weston Bakeries and Workopolis.

BACKGROUNDER

SportsFunder Lottery Games

British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) developed SportsFunder lottery games to benefit amateur sports in B.C. in celebration of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Launched in February 2006, SportsFunder is expected to generate significant incremental revenue for amateur sports.

Gold Medal Hockey is the second of many SportsFunder lottery games that will feature prizes of tickets to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

SportsFunder Gold Medal Hockey

- Launch date: January 7, 2008

- Price: $5

- Top Prizes: one of 100 pairs of tickets to a gold medal hockey game at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games (50 pairs of tickets to the men's final, 50 pairs of tickets to the women's final)

- Odds of winning gold medal hockey tickets: 1:5,000

- Top cash prizes: $75,000

- Approximate overall odds of winning any prize: 1:4

- Available at lottery retail locations throughout the province

Supporting Sports in B.C.

Since its launch SportsFunder has generated over $2 million for amateur sports. These funds have been directed to the following four amateur sports programs:

- KidSport™

Provides financial assistance to children who wish to play sports but cannot afford the registration fees. Each year, the program helps more than 2,000 kids play a season of sport.

- Team BC

Gives athletic development support such as new equipment, training modules and sport science for provincial teams representing B.C. at Canada's premier multi-sport events.

- Youth Sport Travel Assistance

Funds are directed to BC School Sports and selected Provincial Sport Organizations for their youth members to travel to competitions and training opportunities.

- Coach and Leadership Development

Provides educational and certification opportunities with particular focus on coaches in outlying regions, female coaches, Aboriginal coaches and coaches of athletes with disabilities. Funding also goes to B.C. Recreation and Parks Association's High Five program, which provides accreditation for recreation providers working with children.